Manufacture of rubber articles.



R. B. PRICE. Mf\NUFA(ITURE 0F RUBBER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.31. 1913.

Patented Nov 30, 1913 .l u ..1 L'. Y

@NVU v a WW1/meow contacting UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.'

RAYMOND B. PRICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO RBBER REGENERATING-COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

MANUFACTUR OF RUBBER ARTICLES.

Application filed January 3l, 1913.

lborough of' Manhattan, cityof New York,

State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in theManufacture of Rubber Articles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of rubber articles, such asautomobile tires, and has for its object certain improvements in theapparatus for manufacturing the same, as will be more definitelyhereinafter pointed out and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of an apparatus forivulcanizingtires, the same embodying my improved construction and being shown inconnection with a tire disposed therein ready for vulcanization. Fig. 2is a view similar to F ig. 1, showing a modified construction.

In the manufacture of tires it is necessaryl close4 the tread portion 4of the tire. W'itliin this box-like portion I may place a mobilematerial,` such as soapstone, sand, mica, or

the like, and may, if desired, combine therewith ay liquid, such aswater or glycerin` said mobile material surrounding and inclosing thetire tread. Detachably attached to the uppermost clamping plate 2 is acover 3 fitting closely the box 3 and which may be bolted thereto ifpressure is to be applied within the'box by any desired means. Thesurfaces of said box and cover are machined so that in case an exhaustis to be exerted upon the interior of the box a tight joint will beafforded. Said box and cover, being detachable, may be removed from theclamping plates 2 and a tire cured with the employment of said platesalone, leaving the tread of the tire free. And within the tire shoe I maeither employ the usual core, or I may emp oy in place of saidSpecicatioii` of Letters Patent.

the clamps for thebeads Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

seria1N0.745,444.'

core a filling of similar mobile material as that employed to surroundthe exterior of the tire tread. The tire so positioned is now ready forvulcanization, and I contemplate the application of the vulcanizing heatby means of' a series of electric resistance coils 5 disposed in themobile material surrounding the tire tread, and also, if said materialis used in place of a core, within that portion disposed within the tirebody. By the application of an electric current in the usual manner thenecessary vulcanizing heat may be attained and the tire vulcanized.

An important advantage obtained by dis-A posing the tread surface of thetire in a mobile material during the vulcanizing operation is that thesaid mobile material, While supporting the tire tread at the same time,permits'the tire shoe, when heated, to expand or change shape to conformmore nearly to the configuration of its contained fabric threads,whereby the latter are per mitted to adjust themselves evenly throughoutthe tire tread, and will, when the vulcanization is complete, bedisposed in position to most favorably receive the strain imposed uponthe tire tread.

y invention also contemplates providing or flanges with either anelectric resistance coil or with passages :for the reception of theheating medium, whereby said beads or flanges may be separately andcontrollably heated.

In the employment of this apparatus I contemplate the use therewith ofcontrollable vacuums orpressures, or both, both inside and outside thetire shoe, as disclosed in certain applications for patent heretoforefiled by me. And I wish to be understood as contemplating the use of anycombination of the above described features, that is to say, the mobilefillings, they vacuums, the pres sures, both inside the tire shoe and inthe box 3. Or I may remove the box 3 and its cover 3 and vulcanize thetire without any inclosure for the tread thereof, and with a core of anydescription, solid or fluid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for vulcanizing tires, embodying means for clampin andshaping the beads or flanges of the tire, a container surrounding thetread portion of the tire, a Filling of mobile material disposed in saidlOO container and contacting with the tread portion of said tire,Whereby at the initial vulcanizing heat the rubber of the tire maychange shape sufficiently to permit the fabric threadstherei'n to adjustthemselves to the position of maximum eiciency, and an electric`resistance coil disposed in said mobile material to apply to the tireshoe the vulcanizing heat. i

2. An apparatus for vulcanizing tires, embodying means for clamping andshaping` the beads or ianges of the tire, a container surrounding thetread portion of the tire, an electric resistance coil disposed in saidcontainer to apply to the tire shoe heat forvulcanizing, and a removablefiller disposed in said container for directly transmitting the heatfrom the coil to the tire. f

3. An apparatus for vulcanizing tires, embodying means for clamping andshaping the beads or flanges of the tire While leaving the. remainder ofthe tire freely suspended` a container surrounding the tread portion ofthe tire, a filling of mobile material disposed in said container andcontacting with the suspended portion of said tire on both sides thereofwhereby at the initial vulcanizing heat the rubber of the tire maychange shape suliiciently to permit the fabric threads 4therein toadjust themselves to the position of maximum efficiency, and an electricresistance coil disposed in said mobile material to apply. to the tireshoe the vuleanizing heat.

4. An apparatus for vulcanizing tires, embodying means for clamping andshaping the beads or flanges of the tire while leaving the remainder ofthe tire freely suspended` a container surrounding the tread portion ofthe tire, electric resistance coils disposed in said container on eachside of said suspended tire to apply thereto heat for vuleanizing,v

and a removable filler disposed in said container' and surrounding thecoils on each side of the tire for directly transmitting the heat fromthe coil to the tire.

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

RAYMOND B. PRICE.

Witnesses:

IERCY B. HILLS, A. L. MILLS.

